Hi Wesmip1

This is taken directly from an online database for UK racing. While not strictly applicable to Australian racing, race horses are the same all over the world. Its the training methods that are different.

'Days since' are generally used as an indication of racecourse fitness. Reasearch in a book published in the eighties (The Punters Revenge) indicates that a horse with a bad recent run is more likely to lose, where as a hores with a good recent run is more likely to win, and concluded that 'days since' as a varible on its own was not much use unless linked with the horses last performance.


1997-2006
Days..............Bets....Wins......Strike Rate
1 or 2............5043....623.......12.4%
3,4 or 5.........19877...2383.......12.0%
6,7,8 or 9.......59665...5964.......10.0%
10 to 14.........85599...7813........9.1%
15 to 19.........63625...5960........9.4%
20 to 25.........53628...5095........9.5%
26 to 31.........31109...2763........8.9%
32 to 40.........26661...2262........8.5%
41 to 60.........27170...2284........8.4%
61 to 90.........14897...1111........7.5%
91 or more.......48385...3364........7.0%
Not Run Before...34866...2263........6.5%